The New Zealand women footballers have lost 3-0 to Australia in Auckland in their last match before departing for the Cyprus Cup.
Australia also won 3-0 at Albany but the Football Ferns coach John Herdman says the second game was a big improvement on the first.
Herdman says they created a lot more chances than they did din the first game but the Australians were just too clinical.
The Ferns leave today for the eight-team Cyprus Cup , hoping to emulate or improve on their top four finish last year.
The tournament opens with a match against Italy on Thursday morning with fixtures against the Netherlands and Scotland to round out pool play.
